Two states. Two offices.
One team for your first home.
From the Twin Cities to the Chippewa Valley, the Manor Team at Fairway Home Mortgage turns first-time buyers into homeowners — with MN Housing, WHEDA, and USDA programs that can shrink your down payment to almost nothing.
*Subject to program eligibility, credit and property approval. See program details.
Pick your side of the border — we're already there.
The Twin Cities Metro
Minneapolis, St. Paul and every suburb in between — with MN Housing Start Up down payment loans, county-level assistance, and a team based right in Eden Prairie.
Explore Twin Cities buying →WisconsinEau Claire & the Chippewa Valley
Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie and the whole valley — with WHEDA first mortgages, USDA 0% down in eligible areas, and our home office in Altoona.
Explore Chippewa Valley buying →Built for buyers who don't have 20% down.
Most of our first-time buyers use one of these. We'll tell you honestly which fits — and which doesn't.
MN Housing
State down payment & closing cost loans for Minnesota first-time buyers — including deferred options.
WIWHEDA
Wisconsin's first mortgage + Easy Close down payment assistance for Chippewa Valley buyers.
0%USDA Rural
Zero-down loans in eligible areas — which covers more of western Wisconsin and outer-metro MN than you'd guess.
3.5FHA
3.5% down with flexible credit — the classic first-home workhorse.
3%Conventional
As little as 3% down for qualified first-time buyers, with PMI that drops off.
VAVA Loans
0% down for those who served. Thank you — let us handle the rest.
Four people. One file. Zero hand-offs into the void.
Your loan isn't passed to a call center. It's Shane, Drew, Adam, and Kate — from first call to closing table.
The lender your buyer's agent actually wants on the deal.
Weekend showings get weekend answers. Every offer goes in with a call to the listing agent. And your closing date is treated like a promise, not a goal.
- Nights & weekends. Pre-approval math while you're still at the showing.
- Offer support. Updated payment + cash-to-close in minutes on offer day.
- Listing-agent calls. We personally vouch for your buyer's financing on every offer.
Things first-time buyers ask us every week
Who is the Manor Team?
The Manor Team is a first-time homebuyer focused mortgage team at Fairway Home Mortgage, led by Branch Sales Manager Shane Manor (NMLS #1828892) with loan officers Drew Michael Manor (NMLS #2664451) and Adam Hallet (NMLS #2705131), and loan processor Kate Kalenberg. The team works from two offices — Altoona, Wisconsin and Eden Prairie, Minnesota — serving the Eau Claire–Chippewa Valley and the Twin Cities metro.
What areas do you serve?
Two markets, two offices. From Eden Prairie we serve the entire Minneapolis–St. Paul metro: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Minnetonka, Chanhassen, Eagan, Woodbury and surrounding communities. From Altoona we serve Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Lake Hallie and the wider Chippewa Valley in western Wisconsin. Shane and Drew are licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, so a move across the border never means changing lenders.
How much do I need for a down payment as a first-time buyer?
Often much less than you think. Conventional loans start at 3% down for qualified first-time buyers, FHA at 3.5%, and USDA loans in eligible rural areas — including much of the Chippewa Valley — can be 0% down. Minnesota Housing and WHEDA both offer down payment assistance that can cover most or all of your cash-to-close. Many of our first-time buyers bring far less to closing than they expected.
What is Minnesota Housing (MN Housing)?
Minnesota Housing is the state's housing finance agency. Its Start Up program offers first-time buyers below-market rates plus down payment and closing cost loans — including deferred options that don't add to your monthly payment. Income and purchase price limits apply and vary by county. We originate MN Housing loans regularly and can tell you quickly whether you qualify.
What is WHEDA?
WHEDA is the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority — Wisconsin's counterpart to Minnesota Housing. WHEDA First Mortgage programs pair competitive rates with down payment assistance (WHEDA Easy Close and Capital Access), and are a workhorse program for first-time buyers in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley. Income and purchase price limits apply by county.
What is a USDA loan and do I qualify?
A USDA Rural Development loan offers 0% down financing on homes in USDA-eligible areas. "Rural" is broader than most people expect — much of the Chippewa Valley outside the Eau Claire core, and many communities on the edges of the Twin Cities metro, are eligible. Household income limits apply. We can check a specific address for eligibility in minutes.
Ready when you are — in either state.
No forms on this site, and nothing to sign up for. Call, email, or apply securely through Fairway.
Applications run entirely on Fairway's secure systems — this site collects no personal information.Fairway Privacy Policy